PISCATAWAY – Rutgers (13-17, 3-14) concludes its regular season on Sunday when it hosts Illinois (13-17, 3-14) in a 3 p.m. tip-off. With limited tickets remaining for the Senior Day contest, an
alternate traffic pattern will be implemented. Fans are encouraged to arrive early, as increased traffic volume, combined with the closure of Scarlet Lot due to the construction of the RWJBarnabas Health Athletic Performance Center, may delay ingress and egress.
Prior to the game, seniors
Mike Williams,
Deshawn Freeman,
Candido Sa and
Jake Dadika, as well as manager Cheikh N'Diaye , will be recognized in a ceremony. All five honorees are poised to graduate in May. The four players have combined to compete in 297 games, play 5,737 minutes and score 2,027 points. A two-time team captain, Williams has played in 115 games, scored in double digits 48 times and accumulated 1,058 career points. Also a two-time team captain, Freeman has scored in double digits 47 times in 69 games, including 17 double-doubles. Sa has played in 61 games in two seasons, making his presence felt as a rim protector and shot blocker. Team captain
Jake Dadika, a legacy at RU following in his father Rick's footsteps, has competed in 52 games and will exit a four-time letterwinner.
The game will be televised live on BTN with Jason Horowitz calling the action and Robbie Hummel providing the commentary. On the radio, the contest will be broadcast live on the Rutgers IMG Sports Network, WNYM-AM 970, WCTC-AM 1450 and Sirius/XM 81. Jerry Recco will serve as play-by-play announcer and Joe Boylan will provide commentary. WRSU (88.7 FM) will also broadcast the game.
The contest will mark the seventh meeting between RU and Illinois dating back to 2005, with the Illini holding a 5-1 advantage. On Jan. 30, Rutgers dropped a 91-60 decision to the Illini at State Farm Center.
Geo Baker paced RU with 19 points, as UI shot 57 percent (33-of-58). RU is 1-1 at home in the series. On Senior Day last season, Freeman hit a three-pointer with 7.6 remaining to help Rutgers overcome a 10-point second half deficit in a 62-59 win at the RAC.
Rutgers dropped a 79-52 decision to No. 16/15 Ohio State Tuesday evening at Value City Arena.
Corey Sanders and Freeman posted 12 and 11 points, respectively, to pace RU before a crowd of 15,620 on the Buckeyes' senior night. The Scarlet Knights, who have battled injuries throughout the conference season, were without the services of guard
Geo Baker, who did not make the trip due to flu-like symptoms.
Issa Thiam helped to supplement the offense in Baker's absence, scoring eight points, while grabbing a team-high six rebounds.
The Fighting Illini suffered a 93-86 home loss to No. 9 Purdue on Thursday evening. Leron Black scored 28 points and Trent Frazier added 20 in the hard-fought defeat. Black and Frazier are averaging 15.7 and 12.6 points-per-game, respectively, to pace the offense. Illinois is forcing an average of 17.1 turnovers, tops in the Big Ten and eighth nationally, while grabbing 12.79 offensive rebounds-per-game, second in the Big Ten behind the Scarlet Knights.
Rutgers' seed for the upcoming
Big Ten Championship at Madison Square Garden is still to be determined. The Scarlet Knights will play in the opening round on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at either 5:30 p.m. or approximately 8:30 p.m., seed depending.
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